Automatic bell-signal for railroad-track crossings.



PATENTED JAN. 16, 1906.

' L. GASKINS. AUTOMATIC BELL SIGNAL FOR RAILROAD TRACK OROSSINGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 14, 1905.

Qawenkvc UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

LINDSEY GASKINS, OF HAMILTON, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC BELL-SIGNAL FOR RAILROAD-TRACK CROSSINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 16, 1906.

Application filed August 14, 1905. Serial No. 274,091.

To ttZl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LINDSEY GASKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hamilton, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Bell-Signals for Railroad-Track Crossings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

To prevent accidents at railroad track crossings, I have produced an improvement in automatic bell signals fixed along the track and actuated by the moving locomotive; and for this purpose my improvement resides in a novel combination of bell-actuating connections comprising a push-bar, a plurality of floating leversthat is, levers pivotally mounted only in said push-bar to receive in succession the contact of a projection from the moving locomotiveand a swing bell-carrying frame having direct connection with one end of said push-bar and actuated by it, the lower ends of said floating levers being connected each by springs which balance them in their normal vertical positions in the push-bar, so that an arm preferably projecting from the cow-catcher by its successive impacts with said floating levers will force the levers forward, carrying them bodily with the push-bar, and thereby cause the bell-carrying frame to swing back and forth, ringing the bell at each movement of said bar. The retracting movement of the push-bar is effected by a spring connected at one end of the push-bar, and the advantage of the slidable bar and the floating levers car ried by it is that the floating movement of the levers with and upon the push-bar relieves the signal-actuating connections, including the floating levers, from the destructive effects of suddenly striking the floating levers by a projection on the swiftly-moving locomotive, and thus preventthe breaking of the levers, the push-bar, or its connections with the bellcarrying swing-frame. It will be understood that while the bell swingframe is at the crossing of the track its actuating connections, including the push-bar, extend some distance from the crossing along the track, so that the floating levers will be actuated successively to eflect the ringing of the bell before the locomotive reaches the crossing. It will also be understood that the track is provided with identical bell-actuating connections on each side of the crossing and that the push-bar and its floating levers have the same movement in either direction of the moving train. 7

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows in perspective a portion of arailroadtrack at the crossing and my improved bell connecting and actuating connections. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, the dotted lines showing the floating levers as having been moved forward at both ends with thepushbar, the balance-springs connecting the levers allowing their floating movement with said push-bar. Fig. 3 is a transverse section. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the floating lever, its connected push-bar, and springs.

Along and outside of the rail of a railroadtrack and upon the ends of the track-ties is placed a push-bar 1, which extends from the crossing a suitable distance therefrom and at the crossing end is connected to the cranked end 2 of a frame 3, mounted at right angles to the track, standing vertical, and having a fixed bell 4 at its upper end. At its other end the push-bar is connected by a coil-spring 5 to a track-tie to maintain the push-bar and its bell-connected frame in their normal positions. Rolls 6 are arranged, to support the push-bar and render it of easy movement. A plurality of levers 7 are pivotally mounted in the push-bar, one near its spring-connected end and others at suitable distances apart and projecting above and below the push-bar, their lower ends being connected to the ties by a pair of coil-springs 8 8, stand.- ing in opposite directions and acting to balance the levers in their vertical positions to maintain them normally in such positions and causing them to act as floating levers by reason of being fixed only in the push-bar and movable by and with it against the opposite tension force of the springs. The levers stand in positions to receive the impact of an arm 9, preferably fixed to and projecting from the side of the cow-catcher, thereby causing the levers to be borne down against the balancing action of the springs, carrying the push-bar with it and causing its connected bell-carrying frame to swing and to ring the bell. This forced movement of the push-bar is against the expansive force of the ar-connected spring and against the expansive force of one of the balancing-springs of each floating lever. The effect of this expansive force of the push-bar and lever-connected springs will cause the sudden retractive movement of the push bar at the moment the floating lever is released, and thereby cause the bell-carrying frame to be again swung to ring the bell, and in this way almost a continuous ringing of the bell is effected as each floating lever is engaged and released in the passing of the locomotive. While all the lever-connected springs are put under ten sion with the movement of the push-bar and its connected levers in one direction, they all coact to suddenly retract the push-bar and the levers to their normal positions to be successively acted upon by the moving train. In the forward movement of the push-bar its crank-connected end will be lifted by the swing of the crank, and thereby relieve it from friction which would result from a sliding movement, and in its retracting movement the push-bar will be aided by its gravity, and thereby bring the floating levers quickly to their normal positions. By this construction the push-bar is supported by the crank and by the rolls, so that'whatever its length it will be comparatively easily moved by the floating levers.

I prefer to make the bell-carrying frame of a strong wire rod of U shape and to form its bell-connected bar with coils 10, which, with the frame itself, will give it a yielding or spring function, which increases its swing movement at each vibration of the frame and renders the ringing of the bell continuous ]with and between each movement of the push- The ends of the floating levers which receive the impact to drive the push-bar forward toward the crossing are slightly concaved to receive the blow of the impact-bar and allow it to freely pass over the levers,

while the opposite side of the levers are coning a push-bar, a tension-spring connected toone end thereof and a crank connected to the other end of said push-bar, a plurality of floating levers pivoted to said bar, a pair of springs connected to the ties and to the lower ends of each lever to maintain them in their normal floating positions, a swingframe connected to and rising from said crank and having a yielding or spring function, and a bell fixed to the upper end of said swing spring-frame.

3. An automatic railway-signal consisting of a push-bar arranged upon the ties along the outer side of the rail, a retracting-spring connecting one end of said bar, a bell-carrying frame having a crank connection with the other end of said push-bar, a plurality of floating levers mounted in and movable with said push-bar projecting above and below it, and a pair of coil-springs connected to the lower end of each lever to balance it.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LINDSEY GASKINS. Witnesses:

JOHN HARREs, JAMEs SMITH. 

